Nikola Jokić is known as a devout Serbian Orthodox Christian, although he keeps his faith largely private. He made headlines when, in a December 2022 game, a reporter wished him “Merry Christmas” and he calmly replied, “It’s not my Christmas,” reflecting that Orthodox Christians (like most Serbs) celebrate Christmas on January 7th.
Quick Profile: Nikola Jokić
| Full Name | Nikola Jokić |
| Birth Date | February 19, 1995 |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Team | Denver Nuggets (NBA) |
| Position | Center |
| Height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Weight | 284 lb (129 kg) |
| Wingspan | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
| Religion | Orthodox Christian |
What Religion Is Nikola Jokić?
Jokić is a Serbian Orthodox Christian by birth and upbringing. Reports and interviews note that he “was raised in an Orthodox home in Serbia” and that his faith helps “keep him centered,” with Jokić reportedly using prayer as part of his pre-game preparation. He has not made overt displays of religion but has acknowledged its importance. For example, after a Christmas Day game in 2022 (Christmas Day under the Gregorian calendar), a reporter said “Merry Christmas” and Jokić replied, “‘It’s not my Christmas,’” quietly indicating that he celebrates Christmas on January 7th (according to the Julian calendar used by the Serbian Orthodox Church). This exchange went viral in Serbia, illustrating how his Orthodox tradition differs from the American holiday.
While Jokić rarely speaks about religion, sources describe him as “Orthodox Christian”. Beliefnet reports that he “doesn’t say a lot about his specific religious beliefs,” but confirms he values his faith. In private comments, he has noted the importance of spirituality. For instance, he has mentioned using prayer and reflecting quietly before games. Overall, Jokić’s faith appears to be traditional and personal, he honors Orthodox customs (e.g. celebrating Christmas and Easter on Orthodox dates) but does not publicize his beliefs in the media. Observers note that he carries himself with a “calm, steady sense of tradition” and avoids flashy religious gestures.
Early Life
Nikola Jokić was born on February 19, 1995 in Sombor, a small city in northern Serbia. His parents Branislav (an agricultural engineer) and Nikolina, two older brothers (Strahinja and Nemanja), and their grandmother all shared a tiny two-room apartment in Sombor. In a 2016 essay, Jokić recalled that “it was always a full house” with three boys, his parents, grandmother and cousins constantly around. His mother even remembered Nikola paying rapt attention to his brothers’ basketball games as a baby; Nikola himself said that, even with a pacifier, he would “sit and watch [his brothers] play basketball” for hours. This early exposure sparked his love of the game.
Jokić’s childhood was also shaped by turbulent history. During the late 1990s, Serbia was hit by war and NATO bombing; Jokić was only four years old, but later recalled “I remember things like sirens, bomb shelters, always turning off the lights… We practically lived in the dark.”. Despite the hardship, he describes Sombor fondly as his childhood home, with its nature and close-knit community.
Outside basketball, Jokić grew up around horses. His father owned a horse stable in Sombor, and the family raised trotting horses. In fact, as a child Jokić loved harness racing and even competed as an amateur. (He joked that early in life he wanted to become a horseman rather than a basketball player, so much did he enjoy riding.) His father, Branislav, would later name his horse stable “Dreamcatcher” after Nikola’s first horse. This equestrian background has remained part of Jokić’s life, even today he often visits the family stable, and he’s expressed a long-term goal of moving back to Serbia to work with horses after his NBA career.
Career Highlights
Drafted into the NBA in 2014, Jokić has become one of the league’s premier talents. Selected 41st overall by the Denver Nuggets in the second round, he spent the 2014–15 season playing in the Adriatic (ABA) League in Serbia, where he excelled, he also earned ABA League MVP and rebounding title in 2015. Jokić officially joined the Nuggets in 2015 and made an immediate impact. He won NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2016 and steadily improved his playmaking, becoming a triple-double threat as a center.
By 2019, Jokić was a full-fledged NBA star. He earned his first All-Star selection that season and his first All-NBA First Team honor. The following year he continued to dominate; over the 2020–21 season he averaged roughly 27 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists per game, leading to his first NBA Most Valuable Player award. He won back-to-back MVPs with the 2021–22 season as well. In the 2022–23 season Jokić led Denver to its first-ever NBA Finals. The Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in 5 games, and Jokić was unanimously voted NBA Finals MVP. In that Finals he posted a 28-point, 16-rebound championship-clinching game, and overall became the first foreign-born player to capture both regular-season and Finals MVP honors.
On the international stage, Jokić has also excelled. Playing for Serbia, he won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was tournament MVP at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgrade in 2016. By 2025 he has been a seven-time NBA All-Star (2019–2025) and has made the All-NBA team seven times (five First Team, two Second Team). A prolific triple-double machine, he ranks third all-time in NBA triple-doubles and once averaged a triple-double for an entire season (2024–25), the first center ever to do so. Jokić’s signature “Sombor Shuffle” fadeaway and court vision have redefined the center position, making him one of the most unique players in league history.
Personal Life
Off the court, Jokić is known for being quiet, family-oriented, and humble. He married his high-school sweetheart, Natalija Mačešić, in October 2020 in their hometown of Sombor. The couple has two children, a daughter, Ognjena, born September 2021, and a son, Ignjat, born November 2024. Both parents often bring their children to Denver games; Natalija and Ognjena have been seen cheering Jokić on in the arena. He has said he hopes to raise his kids with Serbian traditions, he speaks English fluently but insisted it’s important for his children to learn Serbian as well.
Jokić rarely seeks attention or media limelight. In fact, he “tends to avoid the spotlight,” according to a People profile. He often returns to Serbia in the offseason to spend time with family and horses. He has openly talked about being homesick and wanting a normal life; for example, he told reporters that he celebrated a Western Conference Player of the Month award quietly “with my wife at home” rather than partying. In 2023 he surprised local fans by accepting his MVP trophy at a horse stable in Sombor, reflecting his desire to stay connected to his roots.
Jokić’s personality is often described as even-keeled and selfless. Nuggets coach Michael Malone remarked that Jokić is “just a great, great man” who hasn’t changed with success. He has said he envisions retirement as a simple life in Serbia, “around the family… spending the rest of the day with the horses.” This focus on family and home is a constant thread, even when far from home, his mother frequently visits him in Denver and cooks Serbian dishes to keep him connected to his heritage.
Awards and Honors
- NBA Champion (2023) – Led Denver to its first NBA title
- NBA Finals MVP (2023) – Unanimous selection after the 2023 Finals
- 3× NBA Most Valuable Player – 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons
- 7× NBA All-Star – Selections in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
- 5× All-NBA First Team; 2× All-NBA Second Team – First Team in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025; Second Team in 2020 and 2023
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2016) – As a rookie with Denver
- ABA League MVP (2015) – While playing with Mega Vizura in Serbia
- 4× Serbian Player of the Year – 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
- Olympic Medals: Silver (2016 Rio) and Bronze (2024 Paris) – with the Serbian national team
He also set several NBA records, Jokić holds the record for the fastest triple-double (14 minutes, 33 seconds) and is the only player ever to record a 30-point, 20-rebound, 20-assist game.
Endorsements and Earnings
Nikola Jokić is one of the highest-paid players in the NBA. In June 2022 he signed a five-year, $264 million supermax extension with Denver (through 2028), making him the NBA’s highest-paid player at the time. (Previously he had signed a 5-year, $148M extension in 2018.) Through these contracts he will earn roughly $412 million in NBA salary by the end of 2028. As of 2025 his total net worth is estimated around $120 million.
Off the court, Jokić earns through endorsements. He has deals with Panini (the trading card company) and has signed a signature shoe contract with the Chinese brand 361 Degrees. In late 2023 it was announced he would leave Nike to become “a leading global face” of 361°. These endorsements add several million per year to his income (Forbes estimates around $7–8M annually from endorsements).
Trivia
- Jokić is often called “The Joker,” both for his listed jersey name and his laid-back, fun-loving style. (The nickname is noted in his profile.) In 2015 a Denver scoreboard even briefly flashed a Batman logo (the Joker’s nemesis) after a Jokić play, much to fans’ amusement.
- He’s widely regarded as “the greatest passing big man in NBA history.” His unique skill set – one-handed passes, no-look feeds, and exceptional vision has drawn comparisons to elite playmakers.
- Jokić is one of only three players all-time to average a triple-double over a whole season (achieved in 2024–25). He ranks third all-time in total triple-doubles (behind Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook). He also has recorded the fastest triple-double ever (14:33 into a game) and is the only player ever to get a 30-20-20 line (30+ points, 20+ rebounds, 20+ assists) in a single game.
- In 2014, Jokić was picked 41st overall by the Nuggets during a Taco Bell commercial, a fact that became a quirky part of NBA draft lore. He is the lowest draft pick ever to win NBA MVP or Finals MVP.
- Away from basketball, he has a passion for horse racing and breeding, a hobby dating back to childhood. After retiring, he plans to return to Serbia to become a trotting coach and oversee the family stable.
